Black history observance began in 1926, was expanded in 1976

African American History Month may be almost over, but it's not too late to learn more.

It originated as a weeklong observance of black history in 1926 by historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History.

The celebration was expanded to a month in 1976, the nation's bicentennial. President Gerald Ford urged Americans to "seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history." That year, 50 years after the first celebration, the association held the first African American History Month. By this time, the entire nation had come to recognize the importance of black history in the drama of the American story. Since then each American president has issued African American History Month proclamations.

This year's theme is "Civil Rights in America," commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. The Civil Rights Act of 1964, in effect, rendered the 'separate but equal' ideology unconstitutional."

Here at East County Regional Library we have a number of informative displays set up in the adult and youth services room focusing on historical and contemporary African American political figures, and historical events, highlighting the theme: "Civil Rights in America." If you would like to browse the collection, look in the non-fiction section under the call number 323.1- to 323.1196 - DVDs will be under the same call number in the DVD section. The library's website, leelibrary.net, will also connect you to appropriate electronic resources for researching topics and historical information

Here are a few book and video titles of interest:

"My Soul Is a Witness: A Chronology of the Civil Rights Era, 1954-1965," by Bettye Collier Thomas. From the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, in which legal segregation in public schools was declared unconstitutional, to the sit-ins, Freedom Rides, March on Washington and subsequent passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

"The Civil Rights Movement," by Colin Hynson. Discusses events in America that lead up to the civil rights movement.

"The Civil Rights Movement: A Photographic History, 1954-1968," by Steven Kasher. (323.11 Kasher). The book proceeds from the Montgomery bus boycott, through student, local and national movements; the big marches in Washington and Selma; Freedom Summer; Malcolm X and Black Power; and the death of Martin Luther King.

"The Civil Rights Movement: An Eyewitness," by Sandword Wexler. Speeches, articles, and other writings of those involved to trace the history of the civil rights movement in the United States, primarily from 1954 to 1965.

"The March on Washington: Jobs, Freedom and the Forgotten History of Civil Rights," by William Jones. (New Book 323.1196).

"Freedom Riders." This inspirational documentary is about a band of courageous civil-rights activists calling themselves the Freedom Riders. (DVD 323.1196 Freedom).

"Murder of Emmett Till." Details the murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till, a black youth, who allegedly whistled at a white woman in a Mississippi grocery store in 1955, was a powerful catalyst for the civil rights movement. Till's killers were apprehended, but quickly acquitted by an all-white, all-male jury, later providing grisly details of the murder in a story to journalists. Three months after Till's body was found, the Montgomery Bus Boycott began. (DVD 364.15 Murder).

"We Are Not Afraid: The Story of Goodwin, Schwerner and Chaney: And the Civil Rights Campaign for Mississippi," by Seth Cagin. (323.11 Cagin). The infamous murder of three civil rights workers - college students Michael Schwerner and Andy Goodman, both white Northerners, and James Chaney, a young black activist from Mississippi pits their faith in nonviolence against a murderous rage fueled by racism. (323.11 Cagin)

If you are interested in additional online resources you may find the following helpful:

? National Museum of African American History and Culture - http://nmaahc.si.edu. Established in 2003 by an Act of Congress, making it the 19th Smithsonian Institution museum, it is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, art, history and culture.

? African American History Online - www.fofweb.com. Provides expansive and in-depth information on the people, events, and topics to the study of African-American history.

? National Underground Railroad Freedom Center - http://www.freedomcenter.org. The Underground Railroad is the symbolic term given to the routes enslaved Black Americans took to gain their freedom as they traveled, often as far as Canada and Mexico.

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Black history observance began in 1926, was expanded in 1976

African American History Month may be almost over, but it's not too late to learn more.